Books
La Fiction Pulpe de Gérard de Villiers
I was introduced to Gérard de Villiers’ SAS series when I lived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. No. 76 in the series is “Putsch à Ouagadougou,” and as Worth explains in his story, the book contains undeniable verisimilitude.
British Soldiers, American War – Book Review
War is full of dirty little secrets. The World’s History Editor, Chris Woolf reviews “British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution.”
‘The Big Truck That Went By’: A Journalist’s Account of the Earthquake and its Aftermath in Haiti
Jonathan Katz was the Associated Press reporter in Haiti three years ago when an earthquake hit the country. He spent the next few years documenting the quake and its aftermath.
Why German Crime Fiction Fails to Thrill US Readers
Between 400 and 500 crime novels or “Krimis” are published each year in Germany, but the thrillers have never cracked the US market unlike their Scandinavian cousins.
Lia Lee: A Disabled Life that Changed the Face of Western Medicine
We look back on the life and death of Lia Lee, the daughter of Hmong refugees immortalized in the best-selling book “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.” Host Marco Werman talks with author Anne Fadiman.
Iraq in Retrospect: Kevin Powers’ Novel ‘The Yellow Birds’
Kevin Powers debut novel about the Iraq war, The Yellow Birds was one of the most notable works of fiction in 2012. Powers talks with host Marco Werman about a soldier’s experience sorting through the brutality of the Iraq war.
‘Paris vs New York’: Comparing Two Iconic Cities
Graphic Designer Vahram Muratyan has produced a book of prints called, “Paris vs. New York,” which is a collection of illustrations featuring clever cultural comparisons between the two cities, side by side.
Photographer George Steinmetz Paraglides to Capture Deserts
George Steinmetz is the photographer behind a new book of aerial photographs called “Desert Air.” Steinmetz took all the shots while riding a motorized paraglider, capturing unique views of desert landscapes from above.
Audra Ang: A Food Journey through Modern China
Reporter Audra Ang speaks with Lisa Mullins about her new book: “To The People Food Is Heaven: Stories of Food and Life in a Changing China.”
Chinese Novelist Mo Yan Wins Nobel Prize for Literature
The Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to 57-year-old Chinese novelist Mo Yan. The Swedish Academy praised Mo’s “hallucinatory realism,” saying it “merges folk tales, history and the contemporary.”
Lessons from Ike if Iran Goes Nuclear
The image many of us have of President Dwight Eisenhower is an affable, grandfatherly figure, with that comforting, simple smile. You wouldn’t think he bore the burden of being the first human in history with the power to destroy civilization [...]
Euro Crisis Set as Thriller in New Book
What if Germany did decide to abandon the euro and go back to the Deutsche Mark? A former financial journalist in Berlin has written a thriller based on that scenario. Spoiler alert here: it doesn’t end well. Report Connor Donevan caught up with the writer in Berlin.
Protests in Portugal
Demonstrators across Portugal are protesting austerity measures, even as the unemployment rate there tops 15 percent. Lisa Mullins gets the view from Lisbon with Barry Hatton, author of the book “The Portuguese.”
Remembering Art Critic Robert Hughes
Renowned art critic and historian Robert Hughes died Monday after a long illness, at the age of 74.
Cuba’s Book World, Above and Below Ground
With travel restrictions easing on Cuba, more Americans can go and see the Communist nation for themselves. Many of them will likely browse Havana’s open-air bookstalls, featuring texts by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. But what’s seen above and below ground can contrast in Cuba’s book world, where excited readers find ways to expand their literary reach.
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